Boskone 54’s Featured Filkers are sure to delight … and will make you laugh like crazy because they are FUNNY! The Fabulous Lorraine (aka Quiche Me Deadly, aka Lorraine Garland) and Lojo Russo are incredibly talented musicians who are full of surprises. You’re going to love them. We promise.

Bio: The Fabulous Lorraine aka Quiche Me Deadly has been a musician for simply yonks now. Starting way back in the dawn of time with Emma Bull in the Flash Girls, where she performed songs from a variety of authors including Emma, Neil Gaiman, Jane Yolen, Dave McKean and many others she has no doubt forgotten. She’s currently playing with a guy named Paul in the excitedly named band “Paul and Lorraine” and has for the moment retired from Roller Derby but that could change at any time.

Fabulous-Lorraine-Quiche worked for 20 years as Neil Gaiman’s Assistant before deciding to go back to Skool and get AODA/Spanish/English/Librarian Assoc/BA/Masters degree thing. She and Neil remain best friends, Skool is wonderful fun except for the whole wearing pants thing and she’s still funny as hell.

Bio: Lego LojoLojo Russo has been orbiting the ‘Con biospheres since her first days in the awesomely, classic-jam-rock quintet known as, ‘Cats Laughing’. Three of the original members of ‘Cats Laughing’ – Emma Bull, Steven Brust and Adam Stemple – are best known for their wonderfully crafted SF/F novels. A fourth member wrote ‘blue novels’ under the pseudonym, “Anonymous”. Russo retains the dubious distinction of being the only non-published author of that group.

Somewhere along this timeline she also fell in with the Fabulous Lorraine and has remained both friend and confidant as well as one part of the peculiarly remarkable twosome, Mogg. (aka; Moggenahf, Mogguffaw, the “other” Flashgirls)

From those humble beginnings Lojo Russo has continued to provide soulful, fanciful and farcical music to her enduring fan. Her novelty album, Sweet Tooth, contains the ‘Con-inspired hits, ‘Orbital Groove’ and ‘Blame It On the Jello’. She enjoys long walks on the beach, the smell of Hi-Karate and the way bandaid packets spark when you open them.

Lorraine’s & Lojo’s Schedule at Boskone:

Friday 6:00 PMA Cataclysm of Cats! ReduxLorraine Garland, Esther Friesner, Bruce Coville, Steve Davidson (M)
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
Some suspect that cats (instead of dinosaurs, space cowboys, pirates, or even aliens) are taking over the world. To avert this pending kitty conquest, our panelists hatch some clever plots that just may save us from the ascendency of our feline overlords. While they’re at it, they’ll also discuss how our furry friends are used for the good of all in SF/F writing. Or is this really just subterfuge? Meow …

Friday 8:00 PM & ReceptionOpening Ceremony: Meet the GuestsBrandon Sanderson, Dave Seeley, Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Lorraine Garland, Lojo Russo, Milton Davis, Ken MacLeod
Galleria – Stage · 120 min · Event
Welcome to Boskone, New England’s longest-running convention for science fiction, fantasy, and horror! Whether you are attending for the first time or the fifty-fourth, we invite you to join us in the Galleria to meet this year’s guests and program participants while enjoying refreshments, stimulating conversation, and exceptional art that’s a feast for the eyes. Experience the music and the festivities as Boskone celebrates another year of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in Boston.

Saturday 5:00 PMGreat Ghost StoriesLojo Russo, E.J. Stevens, Gillian Daniels (M), Rob Greene, Paul Tremblay
Harbor III · 60 min · Panel
We’ll look for and at the best stories that take place on the fringe: stories in which the living and the dead intersect, bringing out the drama, tension, and atmosphere that are the hallmarks of a well-told ghost story. (One darkly shining exemplar: Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House.) Join us for an unsettling discussion of what makes a good ghost story great, and why some tales become enduring classics while others … don’t.

Saturday 9:00 PMThe Play’s The Thing!Laurie Mann (M), Lojo Russo, Lorraine Garland, David G. Grubbs, Erin Underwood (M), Jane Yolen, Bruce Coville, David Anthony Durham, Darlene Marshall
Harbor II+III · 90 min · Event
Boskone’s theatrical extravaganza features a live reading of a faux-Shakespearean play that is based upon an Empire far, far away that has striketh back against an intrepid group of friends who are “forced” to confront the dark side. There will be capes and a lighted saber (or two) and shenanigans to entertain audiences of all ages!

Sunday 12:00 NOONThe Princess Bride Then, Now, & TomorrowDan Moren (M), Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Lojo Russo, Ginjer Buchanan
Harbor II · 60 min · Panel
Compared to today’s film standards, The Princess Bride’s lack of diversity is apparent and the female roles aren’t nearly as strong as their male counterparts. But it’s a classic and continues to be loved by people of all ages, sexes, and races. There is something about this film that we key into as story-lovers that continues to keep The Princess Bride on our “favorites” list. Why do we love it? Why have these characters stayed with us for so long? What parts of the movie may have failed us over time? Do we think this will remain a classic 10, 20, or even 50 years from now?
30th Anniversary: The Pricess Bride (film)

Note: Boskone Programming starts at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 17th and is open to the public from 2:00-6:00 pm. A membership is required after 6:00 pm on Friday, February 17th and through the rest of the weekend.